Man wanted in manslaughter case surrenders

PORTAGE -- A Portage man wanted in connection with a fight that killed his girlfriend's father turned himself in to the Van Buren County Sheriff's department at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, said Lt. Joe McDonnell of the Portage City Police department.

McDonnell said Jessi T. Shafer "saw himself on the news (Thursday) night and decided to turn himself in."

Shafer, 28, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 26 death of Jose P. Pequeno, 54, also of Portage. Pequeno's death came 16 days after he and Shafer were involved in a fight which left Pequeno with a closed-head injury after he fell backward.

Pequeno refused medical treatment at the scene of the 2 a.m. fight in the 400 block of Jason Court. Later that day he was found unresponsive by rescue workers who had been called to his Redstock Avenue residence.

When Shafer failed to turn himself in on Thursday, Portage Police said they thought he may have been trying to duck the felony arrest warrant.

Shafer was transported from Van Buren County to the Portage City Jail, where is expected to remain until an arraignment on Monday, McDonnell said.